The formation of lateral conical defects after radical mastectomy in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Aim to find the main causes of the lateral conical defects formation in obese patients after radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Material and methods. We analysed prospectively 82 breast cancer patients with various degrees of obesity. The patients were randomized into two groups. In the main group (43 patients), the original RME method (RU patent No. 2748639, dated May 28, 2021) was used; in the control group (39 patients), the standard RME method was applied. Results. The use of a standard elliptical incision for RME in obese patients leads to the formation of lateral conical defects, the frequency of which reaches 74%. There is a high correlation between the frequency of formation of lateral conical defects in radical mastectomy with expansion of the breast base (Spearman index 0.85 (p0.05), chest circumference (Spearman index 0.92(p0.05), fat pedicle thickness (Spearman index 0.94 (p 0.05) and degree of mammoptosis (Spearman index 0.98 (p 0.05).